Kurdistan’s Weekly Brief March 15

Turkey (Bakur or North of Kurdistan)

A car bomb explosion ripped through a busy square in the Turkish capital Sunday evening, killing at least 34 people and wounding 125 others, officials said.

Police teams have conducted a raid on DBP (Party of Democratic Regions) office in the province of Ağrı. While detainees have been taken to Ağrı police headquarters, more people are expected to be detained within the scope of the operation. Police forces have reportedly broken the doors of the building and seized photos and banners in the DBP office.

Turkish warplanes shelled Keşan village of Heftanin area in guerrilla-held Medya Defense Zones in South Kurdistan territory. Footageshows two houses completely demolished as a result of the bombardment which was carried out between 21:00 – 23:00 of 9 March. Airstrikes by Turkish jets fortunately didn’t cause a loss of life.

Human rights violations in Cizre, where the curfew is partially lifted, is being brought to the International Criminal Court. Attorney Sertaç Özkan from Şırnak Bar Association witnessed many of the human rights violations that occurred during the curfew in Cizre. He called upon the families that were affected by the attacks to apply to the Law Commission set up in the Bar Association.

Thousands of women staged a march in the main Kurdish city Amed to mark the finale of March 8 International Women’s Day rallies in North Kurdistan. Women expressed their determination to continue resisting until freedom for women and Kurdistan were won.

Syria (Rojava or West of Kurdistan)

Local sources in Jarablus reported that fierce blasts occurred last night and today in the morning in the town. Details of the blasts have not been reported yet, but mobilization of ISIS has visibly increased after the blasts, said the local sources. It was also reported the ISIS do not allow the citizens to leave their houses.

Staffan De Mistura, UN’s Syria Speical Envoy, once again reminded the importance of Kurds’ attendance in Geneva III negotiations. According to a news released by Novosti, De Mistura said he is aware of the fact that Kurds’ participation in Geneva III negotiations is very important.

The People’s Protection Units’ (YPG) General Commander-ship notified the supervising side of the joined US-Russian brokered ceasefire that the Opposition forces continued to attack Sheikh Maqsood neighborhood of Aleppo. In this regard, the YPG’s General Commander ship issued a statement

Assad regime forces arrested two Kurdishcivilians in Aleppo and conscripted them into the army. Rami Hamdo, 28, father of three children, and Ahmad Shekho, 27, father of four children were both arrested by Assad security forces in Ramous neighborhood of Aleppo. Both Rami and Ahmad hail from Rajo district of Afrin Canton.

Democratic Syria Forces (QSD) liberated the villagesof Tirwaziye and Al-Sirba Al Sharqiya from ISIS gangs. ANHA correspondents reported that QSD fighters liberated the two villages located near the Mount Kizwan as part of the operation in the name of Revenge of Cûdî and Êlîn two children killed by ISIS gangs in their recent attacks on Girê Spî.

Iraq (Bashur or South of Kurdistan)

North Oil Company (NOC) suspended oil exports from Kirkuk on Friday (March 11) due to the dispute between Baghdad and Erbil. The Head of the Energy Committee in Kirkuk’s Provincial Council, Ahmad Askari, told NRT the cessation of Kirkuk’s oil exports came from a decision by the Iraqi Oil Ministry.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) published the monthly crude oil export report for February 2016.
The report details: All oil export volumes through the KRG-Ceyhan crude oil pipeline; all crude oil cargoes lifted from Ceyhan by the buyers; and the revenues received on account by the KRG during the month.

Patriot Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and Democratic Party of Kurdistan (KDP) delegations held a meeting on March 12 to discuss the ongoing economic and political issues in the Kurdistan Region and reach a suitable resolution to the aforementioned dilemmas.

Iran (Rojhelat or East of Kurdistan)

Health situation of the Kurdish prisoner Afshin Sohrabzadeh has reportedly reached a “critical” point in recent days. This Kurdish prisoner has long been grappling with “colon cancer, internal bleeding and kidney problems.” Arrested by Kamyaran’s Intelligence Agency forces on June 8, 2010, Afshin Sohrabzadeh was sentenced to 25 years in jail after being convicted of perpetrating Moharebeh (Enmity against God) by Sanandaj Islamic Republic Court.